This was a roundtable discussion between WBG Executive Directors and civil society representatives attending the Annual Meetings. The purpose of this event was to promote an exchange of views and discussion on key policy issues such as the Bank’s new development strategy, citizen’s voices, safeguards review, and climate change.

Presentations

Victoria Tauli Corpuz, Tebtebba
– actively engaged in safeguards for indigenous peoples
– crucial to have dialogue directly with the Bank, which we have been pushing for
– have read new strategy, there are lacks that needs to be discussed, question how participation of stakeholders will be enhanced in this process
– CSOs have a lot to contribute for solutions
– The new framework of partnerships speaks to the importance of this

Merza Hassan
– safeguards review will not dilute the safeguards, but look at the new generation of safeguards
– you are becoming our partner, but we want partners at the country level too

Satu Santala
– at the spring meetings goals were agreed, now a full strategy to deliver on this
– real change in the making, potentially to change the way the WB is focusing on poverty, WB in world of reality and links to post 2015 framework
– ambitious agenda, requires many things from the Bank and its partners
– economic growth that creates jobs, inclusion, benefits, sustainability
– strengths strong emphasis on environment, climate, gender and social inclusion
– will help Bank to deliver better results
– new strategy all about impact and results
– implementation will be the proof of if its any good
– quite a lot of emphasis on how the Bank works, modernising the institution, more efficient, accountable – necessary and difficult
– would like feedback on science of deliver and new ways of engaging at the country level
– science of delivery, new approach to focus on success, more than collect and circulate knowledge, about accountability, lot of work already ongoing, eg social media, open data
– engagement at the country level, new approach three components, more systematic analytical phase, new country level phase, incl voices of poor and communities – greatest challenge and opportunity, how to go for further selectivity, with greatest potential to produce results.

Cesar Gamboa, DAR
– Peru, have a good conversation and experience but need to improve the dialogue, need transparency and access to information
– How to engage on how the Bank will work, corporate strategy, eg agree on focus on climate change, also need to work on sustainability of societies
– Safeguard policies should apply to all WB tools

Discussion

Themes to focus on WB new strategy and citizen voice and feedback

Q WB strategy document , has been annual affair on these conversations, why WB doesn’t have more proactive and strategic dialogue (in countries?)

Q Re safeguards review, Indonesia’s forests are under threat from corruption, military involvement, as well as climate projects such as FIP. IEG forest report, mentions failure to achieve poverty reduction – need safeguards and standards for forestry sector

Q economic case for climate session earlier, how will the WB strategy address this, links to energy directions paper, in particular with ref to colleagues from countries affected by WB fossil fuel projects in the room (Kosovo, India, Indonesia) – how will the WB respond to these countries

Gwen Hines, UK ED
– EDs have individual views, can only speak for myself
– In countries I’ve worked in I’ve always made a point of talking with communities, if this is not happening then need to take up with teams on the ground – on the ground engagement very important
– Very difficult to do these kind of meetings, always meet with UK NGOs, encourage others to do the same
– Individual responses would be a full time job

Sundaran Annamalai, Malaysia ED
– on Indonesia, can’t respond directly, not enough information
– waiting on the second round of discussion on safeguards

Ingrid Hoven, Germany ED
– two days ago new IPCC report, confirms urgency of climate change – has been picked up by president and board
– can’t do poverty eradication and shared prosperity without dealing with climate change
– engaged a lot in analytical work, including adaptation and smart technology
– resilience main focus, pursuing five work streams: price on carbon, subsidies on energy, cities, climate smart agriculture and modern energy supply and access to energy
– energy paper says specifically only coal in exceptional cases, to be defined on a country by country basis – have to accept if a country says only fossil fuels
– need to go from carbon dependent reliance, but takes time and investment and funding, should be humble, need to strike a balance

Q MENA region is in transition, need to understand that things have gone wrong in past few decades, poverty rising, economic indicators are not enough for the next period, means move away from usual indicators for wealth and prosperity, to incorporate environmental and social indicators. On 2015 agenda, important Bank makes itself accountability, but not without integrating a human rights approach – what is the Bank’s position on this?

Q Infrastructure investment, social and environmental considerations

Q Water privatisation in Philippines, have experienced problems with affordability and access – what would it take to stop the Bank supporting water privatisation since it is not working, and to secure the right to water for poor and marginalised.

Jörg Frieden, Switzerland ED
– strategy not economic piece of work, comes from consultation, social and environmental dimension large part
– not necessarily all projects get the result expected
– stakeholder engagement is a requirement, but like the human rights, WB cannot enforce this dimension
– the presence of the Bank opens opportunities for dialogue
– don’t expect that the Bank will solve the human rights, environmental social issues – is a minor player that comes into the country because the governments asks for it, its an actor – issue if you want the Bank there as a partner, or to stay away
– should we refuse CAS where human rights is not fully considered. Need to engage in sectors and countries where human rights conditions are not fulfilled
– our engagement is a way to open spaces, not a solution for development, not here to judge human rights policies, to work with governments who accepts our presence – it’s a shared responsibility, cannot assume responsibility for human rights

Piero Cipollone, Italy ED
– on infrastructure, development needs USD 1.5 billion a year to fill the gap
– problem why the private sector is not stepping in, trying to create an instrument for private sector coming in to finance infrastructure
– how is this going to play out is up for negotiation, no agreement on final shape yet

Jean-Paul Julia, France alt ED
– on water, important what you said, we have to see what works and what doesn’t work and the different environments
– don’t have to say there is a rule
– the Bank cannot do everything, regarding the current situation in MENA, try to include other than GDP

Q Uganda org for disabled people, vulnerable, many not going to school and accessing services. In the safeguards review, whether disability is going to be a concern

Q From Yemen, understand WB not only financial source, but play a role, because you care for the civil society and also the obligations towards human rights. You cannot do everything, but will the WB in the future have a bigger role in asserting pressure on our governments to implement human rights, we cannot separate human rights from development. You have open policies towards civil society, we would like to be with you from the first step, starting from the CPF, so when we talk about a project we can help you.

ED
– more attention needed to disability, one challenge for the safeguards review, so many areas for greater involvement, how to not overwhelm the system
– need balance to retain strong safeguards and not overburdening the system, disability is one that is emerging strongly
– several governments working on the themes, scope to do more, but challenge

Ricardo Rainero, Argentina ED
– in the process of changing a bit how we engage with the countries, on country strategies
– on the goals sharing prosperity is very wide, including sustainable development, human rights cannot be separate from development is an increasing concern in the Bank

Merza Hassan
– many types of engagement with countries, eg technical assistance, budget support
– pushing for Palestine through technical assistance, put many resources there, trying to help through NGOs
– access trade, developing SMEs, developing a Bank – we are there to address challenges, but we are there

Gwen Hines
– not everything is about safeguards, safeguards are about doing no harm – policy and technical issue, often the most poor are people with disability
– talking about shared prosperity,
– lots of things can be done, eg WB best practice

Merza Hassan
– agree on disability, shouldn’t leave anybody behind

Q Against new coal power plant in Kosovo and in the region, consultation process not substantive, will you move forward to a more substantial discussion and consider the real policy proposition they provide and experience.

Q Shared prosperity, how is the Bank thinking to address this from fiscal policies, eg taxing systems, tax evasion, better role from the state to providing health for the common good

Q Climate summit in Warsaw, do you plan to present any official statement on the WB’s climate policy, could be helpful for NGOs taking part

Q Why did you join the WB, what is your dream

Jörg Frieden
– we know your position, your government is presenting a proposal, not because we don’t listen
– we don’t exercise any pressure, that time is over
– almost no country in the world need the WB money, there is plenty of money out there, have liberated us from the conditions
– we need to convince them, we can come with proposals that they can take or not – can’t imagine a better situation
– can’t put pressure on governments, not on coal, not on human rights, not on anything – we would of course not engage in anything that does harm

Piero Cipollone
– creating jobs important, recognise where you come from, if you look at income distribution before intervention of the state
– we are not going to impose anything on anybody
– can provide financial resources, depend on the country

Ingrid Hoven
– report again this year on climate change for Warsaw, to illustrate impacts
– conference of parties, so CSOs need to put pressure on your delegation
– WB simply observer and can give advice
– Glad you want the WB to do more, a few years ago CSOs were sceptical about WB
– See gender equality as part of human rights, WB promoting this, speaking to decision makers etc

Merza Hassan
– looking at the economic aspect of human rights, where we can make a difference, and equal opportunity

Ricardo Raineri
– should measure if we are really sharing prosperity or not
– if this is not happening could increase inequality
– fairness, sufficiency and efficiency – tax regimes that are progressive, office of revenue, and evasion
– fossil fuels subsidies, large subsidies in many countries generally support rich people

Satu Santala
– on human rights, how the Bank can integrate HR perspectives better, WB can do a lot and the new strategy gives us a good platform
– whole sustainability brings us to these kind of questions
– clearly this is on the agenda and a lot can be done
– no such things as external pressure, but can give advice and propose solutions
– very lucky to be selected by the Finnish government, reason for applying, having been engaged in development for many years – WB critical role in development
– dream that the goals are fulfilled before I reach retirement

Ricardo Raineri
– country partnerships, new strategy not the Bank telling countries what to do, the client will decide what the priorities are and aligning this to the two goals
– joined the Bank, come from a constituency of 11 countries, before coming here, see a tremendous collection of knowledge and experience within the Bank – new strategy pushes this even further,
– coming from a developing country that used to borrow from the WB, seen it can make a significant difference

ED
– used to work in civil society
– the WB is no longer central development player, given flows of private finance, appreciate you pushing us
– 188 countries coming together to reach goals, working with governments have all the limitations of this.

Victoria Tauli Corpuz
– would need half a day rather than 1 1/2h
– WB different animal now, not with the power of the past
– EDs are also government representative, all have ratified the HR conventions – encouraging responses, hope for more dialogue on this
– indigenous peoples has not been explored fully, governments cannot do it alone, they have messed up – need for all of us to work together
– strategy says want to be a knowledge and solutions institutions, would like to see this done in a broader and deeper way – what are the obstacles and actions needed
– solutions also lie in our hands

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